The already iconic futuristic form of the 103's streamlined case shape houses an innovation orbital satellite complication with time indicated by the orbiting hour satellites as they pass the arc of the minutes.
The slanting sides of the hour satellites ensure an unencumbered view of the time without turning the wrist. Bold SuperLumiNova provides excellent visibility by both day and night.
High-tech grade 2 titanium is used extensively throughout the satellite complication.
The grade 5 titanium Control Board on the back of the 103 was inspired by vintage marine chronometers which placed their more rarely used functional indications on the back of the timepiece. The Control Board is URWERK's contemporary interpretation of classical horology.
The Control Board houses: the Chrono Meter with its dual 15 minute and seconds dial for maximum precision when setting of time; the 43 hour Power Reserve indicator; and the Fine Tuning screw which allows the user the possibility of adjusting the watch's timing +/- 30 seconds per day.
The URWERK 103.05 Limited Edition: a platinum timepiece in a limited edition of only 50 pieces. With the exclusive 103.05, URWERK further extend the concept of opening the ingenious orbiting satellite complication to the heavens. The large targa-shaped crystal is enhanced with the addition of revealing elliptical windows each side of the streamlined body - making for a more ethereal looking watch. With a body both innovative and elegant, the 103.05 deserves the royal treatment and platinum - the king of noble metals - was a natural choice for the case. The choice of metal, while quickly made, was much slower to realize. URWERK's intricate case shape is incredibly difficult to machine in gold - let alone a material more than twice as tough and demanding. In fact, a fundamental question was whether such a complex case design could even be crafted in platinum at all.
At Basel World 2006 URWERK presented the stunning 103 Blackbird in an extremely limited edition of only 10 pieces which were immediately snapped up by a few discerning - and it must be said, lucky- collectors. The 103 Blackbird's platinum case was coated with a high-tech surface using a Plasma Enhanced-Chemical Vapor Deposition treatment. PE-CVD has a higher scratch resistance than PVD and is harder due to its amorphous hydrogenated carbon structure. With the Blackbird, URWERK are one of the first - if not the very first- watch company to take advantage of this esoteric technique.
